Food First Blog

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Listeria monocytogenes is an important foodborne bacterial pathogen that causes listeriosis. L. monocytogenes is ubiquitously prevalent in the environment, including soil, water and vegetation, from where it enters the food chain. Listeriosis is an important life threatening human illness in the United States, affecting an estimated 1,600 people each year, with about 260 of those cases resulting in death.

After learning about and researching Listeria for years, AIB’s microbiologist, Dr. Kantha Channaiah created a cheat sheet of facts about this opportunistic pathogen. Here is a sample of facts from Channaiah’s list:

Following this list of facts, Channaiah provided a deeper explanation of several facts above.

1. Why do we still hear stories about Listeria outbreaks if there is a zero-tolerance policy in the US?

The cold tolerance and ubiquitous nature of the organism makes it difficult to identify the harborage sites. Although L. monocytogenes is not the most heat resistant bacteria, the following advantages over other vegetative bacteria makes it challenging to control in the food manufacturing environment. L. monocytogenes can:

survive and grow at refrigeration temperatures, and survives frozen storage for extended periods.

trace the source of L. monocytogenes in a food processing environment is a challenge.

re-contaminate the finished product after the kill-step during handling, distribution and transportation.

2. Why listeriosis is a dangerous disease?

Although, the estimated incidence of listeriosis is lower than other enteric illnesses, the infection caused by L. monocytogenes require hospital care and about one in five people with the infection die. Pregnant women and immunocompromised people are at greater risk due to listeriosis.

3. How do we control L. monocytogenes in the food processing establishment?

Despite improvements in production, processing, handling, and distribution of food products in recent years, protecting consumers from L. monocytogenes food poisoning still remains a challenge. The success of any Listeria control program depends on an effective HACCP/HARPC plan, a good hygienic design, cGMPs, sanitation program, employee hygiene practices, pest control program, environmental monitoring program, and good hygiene post-process handling procedures.